Source: REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
[Saba Sports News] Thibaut Courtois, current star of La Liga’s Real Madrid, recently made headlines by calling on the Belgian Football Association to consider his return to the national team for the 2026 World Cup. His statements garnered attention both domestically and internationally. Courtois expressed, “My goal is to participate in the 2026 World Cup, and I have always seen this as my objective, but I have had issues with the previous national team coach. In the end, I was right. Will I play in March against Ukraine? That depends on whether the new coach calls me up.” Courtois has an outstanding record with the Belgian national team, ranking eighth in all-time appearances with 102 matches. He helped Belgium reach the semifinals in the 2018 World Cup. It is believed that Courtois’s return would undoubtedly enhance the competitiveness of the Belgian national team, injecting strong motivation into the squad. As a team leader, Courtois’s presence can significantly inspire younger players, and his experience and leadership skills will positively impact the development of the new generation of players.